Netballers boost sevens squad

Netballers Portia Woodman and Kayla McAlister feature in a 12-strong New Zealand women's rugby sevens team named on Friday to play in next month's Oceania championship tournament in Fiji.

Woodman, a national under-21 representative, was part of the Northern Mystics squad in this season's trans-Tasman netball league while McAlister, sister of former All Black Luke, was in last year's team.

The New Zealand women's sevens team also includes handy experience with World Cup champion Black Ferns Linda Itunu, Kendra Cocksedge and Huriana Manuel as well as recent Black Ferns Shakira Baker and Hazel Tubic.

The Oceania tournament runs from August 3-4 and serves as a Rugby World Cup 2013 qualifier for the Pacific nations taking part. New Zealand and Australia are participating in the tournament, but have already qualified.

New Zealand: Shakira Baker, Kendra Cocksedge, Moana Forbes, Sarah Goss, Charlene Halapua, Linda Itunu, Huriana Manuel (captain), Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Portia Woodman.